THE former Only Way Is Essex star Kirk Norcross visited Derby today to sign copies of his autobiography.

The Essex heart-throb shot to fame after appearing in the smash hit reality ITV2 show.

And today, scores of fans were given the opportunity to meet him in person at Asda, in Derby Road, Spondon, from 4pm to 6pm.

Before the visit, the 24-year-old says: "A lot of people think they know my story. Now once and for all I am telling what really went on."

In his book, Essex Boy: My Story, Kirk speaks of his childhood living on a tough council estate in Grays and the difficulties he encountered following the separation of his parents when he was five years old.

"It's a bit of a cliche," he says. "From living in a council house estate, moving to my aunt's and grandparents' house and having not enough money.

"My life went from poverty to things I could never even have thought of."

Kirk's life changed dramatically at the age of 18 when he was reconciled with his father Mick, by then a millionaire.

Dad Mick gave his teenage son a place to live on condition that he got himself a job – which he did working in a shop.

And later, when his father bought the Sugar Hut nightclub – now a famous Towie venue – Kirk persuaded him to let him work there as a promoter. Kirk says: "It went from one day to not talking to him and having less than £10 to my name to this. He is my best friend. We are inseparable."

Kirk says he jumped at the opportunity to be part of the ITV show Towie, which was first screened in 2010.

"It was about two years after I had worked there," he says. "Even when people say they don't, everyone would like to be on TV.

"It's all real. There are so many arguments, make-ups and break-ups but there is so much pressure to better your relationship – that is all true. You can't have an intimate quiet first date or anything like that."

But, despite a rise in fame, Kirk says he found it difficult to adjust at first.

His book also reveals the impact fame has had on his life.

He left the programme after the third series aired and returned in September 2012 before leaving the show altogether last month.

Kirk had said he was excited to meet his fans in Derby – many of whom he said have been showing their support on social network site Twitter.

Never heard of him! Might as well have been Jim Jackson, a regular comedian at the Mussel and Winkle, near Crowland, Lincolnshire, whose famous catchphrase "Hi I'm Jim Jackson" always had the locals laughing their beer bellies off!

The sad fact is people look up to these kind of drips and aspire to be like them, famous for nothing good for nothing trash. As for poverty don't make me laugh poverty in this country is when the feckless work shy and idle haven't got a plasma television. The problem is none of the main political parties dare say it for fear of being tainted nasty,Arr deedums.

What has Derby done so wrong to deserve this idiot. Mind you what's the IQ of the people buying the book, bet he wrote every last word! Yeh right....go away Muppet. No that's putting Kirmet and **** Piggy down, sorry Muppets!!!!!!!!